Building sustainability partnerships

in 5 Greater Minnesota regions

The Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

(RSDP) connect Greater Minnesota communities to

University of Minnesota resources through sustainability

projects. RSDP brings together local talent and

innovation with University knowledge and resources.

Projects are supported through 5 community-driven

regional boards and statewide focus area staff.

rsdp.umn.edu

2020 Projects

136 place-based

innovations

Fiscal Year 2020 by the Numbers (7/1/19-6/30/20)

Learn more about our Fiscal Year 2020 projects >

388 community

partners

138 University

partners

131 cities, towns &

Native nations

55 UMN students workedwith communities

250 rural grocery

stores supported

18K research report

downloads

6,877 volunteer hoursleveraged

20K receivededucation/training

48.2 billion BTUs ofenergy saved/generated

(2019 federal reporting year)

(2019 federal reporting year)

(2019 federal reporting year)

RSDP works in four focus areas. RSDP'senergy programming is provided by theClean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs).

"RSDPs are on the front lines. By listening to the community members' innovativeideas, RSDP acts as a conduit and connector between the U of MN and outstategroups in order to empower, build capacity and incorporate sustainable practices allacross the state." - RSDP Board & Work Group Evaluation

CENTRAL REGION Executive Director: Molly Zins, zend0007@umn.edu Learn more: rsdp.umn.edu/central Cooperativa Agua Gorda Market Study [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Cooperativa Agua Gorda, Latino Economic Development Center, UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN Extension SNAP-Ed, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP) Long Prairie – Community and UMN partners are conducting a market analysis and developing a marketing plan for Cooperativa Agua Gorda. The marketing plan will identify opportunities for establishing and growing business partnerships across the region with the goal of providing more schools, health care systems, senior centers, businesses and other institutions with access to healthy, sustainably-sourced local produce. Food Co-op Audits [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Region Five Development Commission, Food Co-op Coalition, UMN RSDP Supply Chain Development Specialist Ideal Corners – The six-member Central Minnesota Food Co-op Coalition and UMN partners will conduct peer-to-peer food co-op audits that assist the food access points in learning grocery industry best practices, store layout, merchandising that enhances healthy buying and eating choices, member engagement, customer service and marketing. The project team will also co-create a process and replicable model for other interested stores. Greater MN Welcoming Communities Photovoice [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Long Prairie English as a Second Language Program, Region Five Development Commission, UMN Extension, UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN Morris Center for Small Towns Pelican Rapids & Long Prairie –This project seeks to answer: What makes a community welcoming from the perspective of immigrant or refugee newcomers to towns in Greater Minnesota? Using Photovoice (a qualitative, participatory research method), project partners are working with immigrant and refugee community members to help answer the question through their photos and stories. Building on and learning from the experience, the team will develop a Welcoming Communities Toolkit to share with other interested communities.

Heritage Farm Feasibility Study [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Heritage Group North, Happy Dancing Turtle, Cass County Economic Development, UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP) Pine River – The proposed Heritage Farm will provide hands-on agricultural, ecological and cultural education for Greater Minnesota. The experiential education model addresses the ever-increasing public interest in where food comes from, soil health, sustainable and organic agriculture, and learning from the wisdom in Minnesota's agricultural and cultural histories. Project partners are conducting a regional market analysis, case studies and cost and revenue analysis to help guide next steps. The Joseph Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: The Joseph Project, UMN NERSDP, UMN Department of Applied Economics Detroit Lakes – The Joseph Project leaders met with the Northeast RSDP project team and a UMN graduate research assistant studying food aggregation and the unique opportunities and challenges in developing a robust local food distribution system that works for farmers, stores/markets and consumers. The Joseph Project team connected directly with the researchers to learn firsthand about the relevant findings from this in-depth study to help inform their planning. Leech Lake Early Childhood Megwayaak Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Leech Lake Early Childhood Development, UMN Extension Center for Food, Agricultural, & Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN College of Design Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Nation – The heart of the Megwayaak Project is a 3-acre wooded area located directly behind the Early Childhood Center, providing an invaluable resource for community children, families and staff. Building on last year’s work developing the indigenous education and outdoor learning classroom activities, the project team collaborated with a UMN landscape architecture student to co-create the outdoor classroom designs.

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Ranch Planning [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (MLBO) Department of Natural Resources, UMN Extension Center for Family Development, UMN Extension Center for Food, Agricultural, & Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Nation – The project team is developing a strategic plan for the MLBO agricultural learning and therapeutic ranch. Through sustainable agriculture practices and MLBO cultural values the ranch will: promote food sovereignty; provide therapeutic and rehabilitation services; preserve and share Ojibwe cultural practices; and educate youth. National Loon Center & Northern Lakes Initiative [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: National Loon Center (NLC) Northern Lakes Initiative Advisory Group, National Loon Center Board, UMN Duluth Environmental Education, UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP) Crosslake – In fall semester, community leaders collaborated with a UMN graduate student to co-create the NLC curriculum framework. Building on the curriculum plan, project leaders are working alongside another UMN graduate student to design the indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces. Promise Neighborhood FOCUS AREAS: Promise Neighborhood community members and organization leaders, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN College of Education and Human Development St. Cloud – Promise Neighborhood is a community-led organization serving St. Cloud’s Talahi area families (a community with a 95% poverty rate), providing free after-school programs for youth and developing resources, trainings and leadership programs for adults. Community participants, Promise Neighborhood leaders and a UMN graduate student researched best practices and co-created solutions to improve the well-being of children in southeast St. Cloud. Salsa Fest FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association Statewide and Central Chapters, Long Prairie Community Members, UMN Carlson School of Management, UMN Tourism Center, UMN Morris Center for Small Towns

Long Prairie – The second-annual Salsa Fest celebrated the locally grown and diverse harvest, communities and cultures that make up the region. The gathering brought people together to share food, music and dance traditions, and the project team looks forward to exploring opportunities to expand their reach and engagement. Somali Community Radio - Why Buy Local Food? [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Laarri Media Group, UMN Extension SNAP-Ed, UMN Extension Health & Nutrition Programs St. Cloud – Laarri Media Group is hosting a series of Somali-language radio talks related to the availability, affordability, accessibility and preparation of healthy local food in the greater St. Cloud area. The Somali-language radio programs are engaging the audience in conversations around readily available local produce, nutrition and health benefits, and how local food purchases support the community, economy and environment. RAPID RESPONSE COVID-19 PROJECTS FOCUS AREAS: In response to COVID-19, RSDP staff and boards addressed emerging concerns and supported local solutions advancing community resiliency. Rapid Response projects included: Emergency Halal Food Supply Hub [NEW] MN Halal & Grocery, Midnimo Grocery, Halal Meat and Restaurant, Community Grassroots Solutions, UMN Extension Health & Nutrition St. Cloud – Community groups and grocery stores are partnering to create an emergency Halal food supply to serve low-income Somali families. Store customers will be provided the opportunity to donate to the in-store emergency Halal food supply in an effort to sustain or grow the program. Fergus Falls Food Distribution [NEW] City of Fergus Falls Fergus Falls – The city is providing a box-to-go system for food pick-up. After just under a week of service, the City served 150 families and they expect this number to rise in the coming weeks as more people become unable to shop for themselves. Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota [NEW] Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota St. Cloud – The program is providing 200 meals primarily to Promise Neighborhood community families in southeast St. Cloud with children at Talahi and Lincoln Elementary Schools and South Junior High School. In addition, families are provided meal plan ideas via social

media and when delivering academic support packages for students. Springboard for the Arts [NEW] Springboard for the Arts Fergus Falls – Springboard’s Rural Program is hiring artists to safely bring joy, social connection and comfort to communities that need it the most during social distancing. Projects will include performances outside of care facilities or businesses, facilitated art projects for families to display in windows or doors, and more. CENTRAL CERT Community Solar for Tri-County Community Action ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Little Falls – The Tri-County Community Action Partnership (TCCAP) will install a community solar garden to serve low-income disabled veterans in the Little Falls area. After this system is commissioned, TCCAP will contract eligible residents to receive no-cost shares in the garden that will help offset their energy burden. The solar garden, located near the TCCAP Headstart and Early Headstart classrooms, will be used to develop and implement an early childhood and energy efficiency and sustainability curriculum. CERTs Seed Grant funds will help cover the costs of outreach, client services and program development for this project. Downtown EV Charging Station ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Wadena – As a rural community, Wadena currently lacks EV charging infrastructure, but its location at the intersection of three major state highways makes it an ideal place for drivers to recharge their cars while traveling across the state. Using Seed Grant funding, the city will cover the labor costs of installing two charging stations at parking spaces in the city-owned parking lot along Aldrich Avenue SW. In addition to facilitating use of EVs, Wadena also hopes that this project will energize (pun intended) the city’s downtown business district by increasing customer traffic and raising Wadena’s profile among eco-conscious consumers. Guiding Leech Lake to Sustainability ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Cass Lake – The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe seeks to significantly advance sustainability in their built environment. Their approach will be threefold: solar readiness of new construction and major renovations,

approaching net zero energy and overall sustainability of new construction and major renovations, and electric vehicle readiness and infrastructure support. The funding secured from CERTs will cover the cost of hiring a design professional to develop guidance, policies and ordinances that will facilitate the implementation of the Band’s new initiatives. Hubbard County Food Shelf LED Lighting Project ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Park Rapids – The Hubbard County Food Shelf plans to reduce its electricity expenditures by converting all l ighting in their building to LED. Keeping these expenses to a minimum allows them to allocate more funding toward distributing basic necessities to their client base, many of whom are l iving below the poverty l ine. The funds awarded by CERTs will help cover the labor costs of the electrical contract work required for the l ighting upgrades. Places Reimagined: Energy Efficiency & Home Winterization Workshops ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency St. Cloud – Rethos will host four workshops to teach homeowners how to maximize energy efficiency and heat loss. Classes will include Why Old is Green, Repairing and Restoring Old Windows, Energy Audit Walkthrough, and DIY Energy Upgrades, which will demonstrate such concepts as the importance of conducting an energy audit, basic weatherization and winterization skills, and ways in which older homes can be upgraded and improved. The CERTs Seed Grant will fund the staff and contracting labor required to develop and implement a curriculum at the workshops and conduct effective outreach to stakeholders. Solar Schools Curriculum Development ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Backus & Pine River – In 2019, the Rural Renewable Energy All iance installed 1.5 megawatts of solar capacity at three area schools. RREAL will expand on this success by developing solar energy education toolkits and online tools for distribution to all 24 schools in Region 5 in Central MN. The end goal will be for students to gain a comprehensive knowledge of solar technology of renewable energy careers, as well as ideas about how they can get involved in their local clean energy economy.

NORTHEAST REGION Executive Director: David Abazs, dwabazs@umn.edu Learn more: rsdp.umn.edu/northeast Aeroponics CSA Farm Research Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Harvest Nation Inc., Blandin Foundation, Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability, Rutabaga Project, Natural Harvest Food Co-op, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Entrepreneur Fund, Small Business Development Center, UMN Duluth Center for Economic Development Tower – Harvest Nation’s Pilot Feasibility Study aimed to determine if an indoor, aeroponic CSA farm concept is viable. This study was to explore the feasibility of this indoor, aeroponic farm concept on the Iron Range and in local Indigenous communities. The three-part study included a market analysis, a technical analysis, and a financial analysis finalized in February 2020. NERSDP staff David Abazs served on the Harvest Nation Advisory Board. Carlton County Next Generation FOCUS AREAS: Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship, UMN College of Liberal Arts, NE Minnesota Beekeepers Association, UMN Extension Community Development, UMN Urban Studies Carlton – Olbenburg Arts and Cultural Community is a nonprofit-led effort to build on the region’s distinctive character and assets. This project will expand the annual music and pollinator advocacy event held the first weekend in August – the ‘Honey Bee Folk Festival’ – and involve local sustainable farmers and beekeepers, musicians and artists, outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists, and members of the Fond du Lac Band and the Tribal College’s Environmental Institute in a high-profile event that draws participants from all across Minnesota to Carlton County. Deep Winter Greenhouse FOCUS AREAS: Organic Consumers Association, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR), UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Finland – Provide joint research, outreach and education for participants in the RSDP Finland Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG) Campaign project. This includes tours, project-specific consultation, and the hosting of the DWG open houses in Finland with project partner Organic Consumers Association.

Farm Internship Research [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Northland Food Network, Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) Lake Superior Chapter, Healthy Northland SHIP, UMN Extension Health and Nutrition, UMN Duluth Liberal Arts Angora, Babbit, Clear Creek Township, Cook, Duluth, Embarrass, Finland, Grand Rapids, Hermantown, International Falls, Meadowlands, Rock Creek, Saginaw, Soleway, Two Harbors, Wrenshall – The region-wide collaboration is managing this research project to identify what makes some farm internships and other experiential learning situations successful in creating new farmers/farms within the NERSDP region. With the assistance of UMN Duluth student researchers, we are surveying and documenting successful farm internships with the goal of determining the best practices for new farmer recruitment and training specific to the region. The information captured through this project will be designed for the use of policy makers, educators and current/future farmers offering internships. Finland Community Childcare Development [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Friends of Finland, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, North Shore Area Partners, UMN Extension Youth Development Finland – The Friends of Finland childcare team is planning and developing programming for the opening of an in-home, nature-based childcare facility within five miles of the center of town in Finland, MN. This includes program research and design, community networking, and preparation of a physical indoor and outdoor space. Community work gatherings and other collaborative efforts include partnering with Wolf Ridge graduate students, exploring inter-generational programming with a special focus on facilitated shared space, developing a template for a Joint Intergenerational Caregiving Facility, developing focus areas of music and language, and conducting research on early childhood sleep/nap/resting time. Forest Assisted Migration Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Nature Conservancy, 1854 Treaty Authority, Sugarloaf North Shore Stewardship Association, Northland Food Network, Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association, Mille Lacs Sustainable Farming Association, Finland Food Chain, Rutabaga Project, Fond du Lac Farm, Grand

Portage, County and State Forestry, UMN Duluth Department of Biology, UMN Cloquet Forestry Center Aitkin, Cloquet, Clover Valley, Cook, Duluth, Embarrass, Finland, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Saginaw, Tower, Two Harbors and Virginia – This project will collect seeds using state-of-the-art best practices from species/populations that are predicted to thrive into the future, study climate-related population differentiation, and distribute the most suitable seeds to a newly established tree growers network which will produce genetically diverse, climate-forward seedlings for forest regeneration. This project will develop a model of tree procurement and institutional purchasing that supports the scaling up of the number, diversity and scale of trees planted in our region to directly affect the future health of the forest, including carbon sequestration. This project aims to stimulate the local economy for several decades. NERSDP staff David Abazs is co-facilitating this leadership team and three UMN Duluth students doing preliminary work. Grown on the Range [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability, Hometown Focus, Iron Range Tourism Bureau, UMN Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics Virginia – This project is building a regional promotion effort that is focusing on a robust eat-and-grow-local campaign, an Iron Range Local Food Trail tourism attraction, and a regular newspaper column highlighting past and current regional farming and food production. A Marketing Project Report on consumer interest in purchasing locally source products has been completed. The overall purpose of this project is to put the Iron Range and all of Northeast Minnesota back on track toward food self-sufficiency with all of the economic and health benefits that it will bring. Hemp Seed Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Forty Acres Cooperative, Harvest Nation, Inc., Bois Forte Tribal Council, Area Farmers, UMN Institute on the Environment, UMN RSDP Supply Chain Development Specialist Rutledge, Tower – This pilot project is testing various strains of industrial hemp for various climates in Minnesota to develop high-quality industrial hemp seeds and encourage diversity, equity and broad cultural participation in partnership with rural farmers, tribal farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers to provide access to tools, training and support towards becoming sustainable hemp farmers.

Lawn to Lessons Demonstration Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Community Partners Two Harbors, Shoreview Natives, SHIP Coordinator, Lake County Soil Water Conservation District, North Shore Rotary Club, Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources, City of Two Harbors, UMN Extension Lake County Master Gardeners Two Harbors – This project will transition a small existing garden and large mowed lawn at the front of the Community Center into an educational walkthrough poll inator garden with native flowering perennials (as part of BWSR’s Lawns to Legumes guidelines), a therapeutic sensory garden with experiential perennials, vegetables, aromatic shrubs and flowering trees (as part of Lake County Master Gardeners’ “Nature Heals”). This new garden will showcase what can be grown in our zone 3 and 4 climate for both tourists and local residents. The environmental benefits will not end at pollinators, but will include soil development and increased storm water infi ltration as a crucial step toward protecting the nearshore of Lake Superior. Let’s Get Growing: Classroom Learning and Locally-Sourced Produce in a Northern MN High School [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Independent School District 318 – Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids Farmers Market, Lavaliers Apple Orchard and Berry Patch, La Prairie Nursery, Bryndlwood Farm, Community Members, UMN Extension Master Gardeners Grand Rapids – As northeastern Minnesota has the food-producing capacity to feed all its residents, it is imperative that education in food production starts in our schools. This project brings together education, collaboration and production and involves tours to a local orchard, nursery and farms. Taking steps to establish the first school orchard in the district will provide the school population with local fruits for years to come. Teens enrolled in a Greenhouse and Landscaping class will gain lifelong food production skills on topics such as orchards, greenhouses, microgreens growing, food-handling safety, distribution, marketing and phenological observations for orchard timing of plantings, pruning, pollination, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and harvesting. Banners will be made and placed in the cafeteria whenever local products are available to raise awareness of the local foods movement and this project. Local Food Local Places [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Ecolibrium3, Generations Health Care Initiatives, St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth Community Gardens Program, Zeitgeist, Seeds of Success, City of Duluth, Duluth Grill, St. Louis County Public Health, Duluth Farm to School, Duluth Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Lake

Superior College, Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) Lake Superior Chapter, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Duluth – Ecolibrium3 championed the “Local Foods, Local Places” opportunity that connects the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA with a collaboration of locally led, community-driven efforts to protect air and water quality, preserve open space and farmland, boost economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses, improve access to healthy local food, and promote childhood wellness. This initiative focused on the Lincoln Park Neighborhood, and NERSDP board and work group members participated in the process while staff David Abazs served on the Steering Committee. Multi-chamber Root Cellar [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: The Boreal Farm, Sustainable Farming Association State Office, Darrel D. Johnson Excavating, Carlson Concrete, Marshall School, UMN Extension Educator – Ag Production Systems, CERTs, UMN Duluth Liberal Arts College Duluth – This project is applying renewable energy and modern technologies in a traditional food preservation method of root cellaring by re-purposing precast concrete septic tanks that fail pressurization tests and implementing renewable energy to create an efficient, low-cost, sustainable footprint food preservation system that is duplicable. We will conduct measurable experiments with UMD students as a living classroom, over an 18-24 months period in trialing different insulation types, tank sizes and installation methods in order to determine the effectiveness of a tank in achieving and maintaining optimal temperature and humidity year-round for the needs of a different foods. NEAT Bicycle Farm Tours [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) Lake Superior Chapter, Mesabi Biking Association, Farmers, UMN Extension Community Development Aurora, Biwabik, Bovey, Buhl, Calumet, Chisholm, Coleraine, Ely, Eveleth, Gilbert, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Keewatin, Kinney, Marble, McKinley, Mountain Iron, Nashwauk, Pengilly, Soudan, Taconite, Tower, Virginia – This project reached out to new farms and organizations to put together the “Biking from Farm to Farm!” agritourism initiative. The experience involved sharing meals, learning about farmers and farming, and staying overnight in a cabin, room or tent. Participants received opportunities to work on farms, feel the earth and community around them, and sweat. This project was designed to increase on-farm income opportunities and provide for a richer cultural biking experience along the Mesabi Trail. This farm tour is on the Mesabi Trail website and includes an interactive map with farm

descriptions and contacts for individuals and groups to explore by bike the world of food, agriculture and culture. This is designed to increase on-farm income opportunities and provide for a richer cultural biking experience along the Mesabi Trail. North Circle Seeds [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: North Coast Farmer Seed Cooperative, Organic Seed All iance, Sustainable Farmers Association, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, Indigenous Seed Keepers Network, American Indian Community Housing Organizations, Growing Together Community Gardens, Sin Fronteras Farm, Shared Ground Coop, Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, UMN College of Biological Sciences Duluth, Finland, Grand Marais, Two Harbors – This project is working to build a stronger food system and more resilient communities in Northeast Minnesota and other regions throughout the state by using podcasting and videography to tell the stories of seed growers, collaborating to build a strong regional seed-saving network, and finalizing an enterprise analysis of seed production for growers. The project team is developing seed-saving educational materials and events, and i l lustrating the vital importance to our food system of creating a locally grown, regionally adapted and culturally relevant seed supply for all Minnesotans. The team is conducting interviews with seed savers and farmers, capturing videos at seed savings workshops and conferences, and refining a marketing and communications strategy with a new farmer seed cooperative starting in the Northeast region. Northeast Agriculture & Food Systems Collaboration FOCUS AREAS: Northland Food Network, Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability, Rutabaga Project, Finland Food Chain Project, Healthy Northland (SHIP), Grand Rapids Farmers Market Aggregation Program, Renewing the Countryside, Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) Lake Superior Chapter, Area Farmers, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN Extension Health and Nutrition, UMN Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, UMN Duluth Farm Finland, Grand Rapids, Virginia – CURA-CAP student Ki Bum Noh studied the potential models of developing food hubs in Northeast MN to address human health, fair prices for producers, and ecologically friendly practices along with access to food. NERSDP VISTA member Sarah Verke led the enhancement of education and research of producers, organizations and institutional database expansion, along with work on farm-to-school issues, cooperatives, team development and dynamics, and the ultimate creation of a food systems umbrella

organizational structure for the region. NERSDP staff David Abazs oversaw the work on this project. Scholarships/Sponsorships FOCUS AREAS: Climate Adaptation Conference, Green Lands Blue Waters, Rural Generation Summit Duluth – Funds are available for scholarships and sponsorships for Northeast region residents. Community members are invited to apply for scholarships to participate in activities intended to increase their capacity to serve their communities. Wild Plants & the Fond du Lac Tribal Community FOCUS AREAS: Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, UMN Duluth Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship Fond du Lack Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Nation – Fond du Lac has identified areas in the community as food deserts, recently characterized more as food apartheid. To address this challenge, they will capture their elders’ knowledge by developing a video series to facilitate utilizing wild plants as a food, utilitarian and medicine source and to promote food sovereignty. Interviews are being conducted. “Zhooniyaake Today” Native Business Case Studies FOCUS AREAS: Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance, UMN Duluth Department of Geography and Philosophy, UMN Extension Community Economics Duluth – This project aims to share the success stories of American Indian entrepreneurs operating in Northeast Minnesota and provide the opportunity for UMN Duluth undergraduate students to apply their multimedia skills. There are many programs that recognize and reward the accomplishments of successful entrepreneurs, many of whom are members of mainstream society. However, some of these programs have had difficulty in recruiting and recognizing minority-owned businesses, including those owned and operated by American Indian Band members. This video series provides a non-competitive approach to promoting these businesses and highlighting how connections to their respective Band or other community can be seen as an important part of their success.

RAPID RESPONSE COVID-19 PROJECTS FOCUS AREAS: In response to COVID-19, RSDP staff and boards addressed emerging concerns and supported 17 local solutions advancing community resiliency. Rapid Response projects included:

Community Volunteer Networks for Food/Supply Delivery and Elder Services [NEW] Community Partners Two Harbors, North Shore Area Partners Silver Bay, Two Harbors – Support was given to address increased capacity needs of two community volunteer networks providing food and supply delivery and critical services to elders and vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. UMN Extension’s 14-Day Meal Kit & Curbside Pickup and Delivery Model resources were shared. Distance Learning and Public Health Information during COVID-19 [NEW] KTWH Radio Station, Sea Change Expeditions Two Harbors, Lake Superior/North Shore region – Support was given to two projects providing distance-learning opportunities or public health information to North Shore area residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmers’ Market Social Distancing and COVID-19 Safety Precautions [NEW] Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency; Friends of the Finland Community; Aitkin, Cook, Duluth, Finland, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Tower, Two Harbors & Virginia Farmers’ Markets Aitkin, Cook, Duluth, Finland, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Tower, Two Harbors, Virginia – Support was given for several Arrowhead Region farmers’ markets to develop social distancing and other safety protocols aligned with COVID-19 recommendations, such as online ordering, food and vendor safety education, signage, and increased access to masks, disinfectant and handwashing stations. Helping Residents Maintain Food Access and Healthy Eating during Coronavirus [NEW] Clover Valley Farm, Duluth Community Garden Program, Grand Marais Snacks & Packs Backpack, Northland Food Network, Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) Lake Superior Chapter, Lake Superior College, UMN Extension Center for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, UMN Extension Health and Nutrition Duluth, Grand Marais – Northeast RSDP supported three projects – a farmer/consumer online interface, video series and weekly food pack service for students of low-income families – to support residents in maintaining food access and preparing healthy, local foods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing Infrastructure to Maintain Community Gardens During COVID-19 [NEW] Aitkin Farmers’ Market, Baptism River Community Church Outreach, Duluth Community Garden Program Aitkin, Duluth, Finland – Northeast RSDP provided support for community gardens in Aitkin, Duluth and

Finland to adapt and build infrastructure necessary to maintain services during the coronavirus pandemic and meet increased demand for community gardens as a means to food security. Tribal Elder Self-Protection Hygienic Care Kits [NEW] Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Bois Forte Government Center, Lake Vermillion Elder Nutrition Program (ENP) Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Nation – Support was given for developing and distributing individual Tribal Elder Self-Protection Hygienic Care-Kits to Prevent COVID-19 Infection, with instructional materials for recommended use. NORTHEAST CERT Duluth Citizens’ Climate Action Plan ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Duluth – Ecolibrium3 will work with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Duluth Climate and Energy Network to develop a Citizens’ Climate Action Plan to guide implementation of sustainability-focused projects, programs and behavioral change in Duluth over the next five years. This effort will involve five public engagement sessions and visioning gatherings to look at ways that all citizens can participate in building a greener, more equitable Duluth. The CERTs Seed Grant award will help cover the costs of a facilitator for visioning gatherings. Food Preservation with Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Duluth – The Boreal Farm was founded as a teaching farm and living classroom for local farmers and students. One of the greatest issues facing farmers is the need for a long-term, high-volume, energy-efficient means of food preservation; this includes a need for storage systems for everything from fruits and vegetables to cured meat and seeds. The Boreal Farm plans to apply renewable energy and modern technologies in a traditional food preservation method of root cellaring by re-purposing precast concrete septic tanks. By coupling this with solar and wind, and by applying geothermal principles, they will create an efficient, duplicable, low-cost food preservation system to meet the needs of farmers and other artisan food crafters. Here Comes the Sun – Family Education Workshops ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Duluth – Through Design LLC, a Duluth-based consultant, and Brick and Mortar LLC, a new Duluth entity, this

project will work with non-profit organizations: the Family Freedom Center, the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO), Ecolibrium3 and Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light to deliver community workshops focused on the benefits and opportunities with solar energy. Attendees will participate in discussions about renewable energy, climate change and economic justice, including ways that they can participate and lead in the transition to renewable energy in their own communities. Guest speakers are Minnesota entrepreneurs who will share their stories of finding work in the clean energy sector. The events will provide information about education, training and job opportunities related to renewable energy, and include activities for students. Municipal Fleet Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Grand Marais – The City of Grand Marais will conduct a study using Geotab telematics devices and Saswatch Labs analytics software in municipal vehicles to gather data that will help identify opportunities for integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into the city fleet. The City will install telematics devices and engage consulting services to conduct the research, data analysis and education necessary to successfully identify EV integration opportunities and present these findings to the city council. The ultimate hope is that this study will construct a sound rationale for purchasing electric vehicles for the Grand Marais fleet, thus furthering the city’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040; the city will also share its findings with neighboring communities in Cook County.

NORTHWEST REGION Executive Director: Linda Kingery, kinge002@umn.edu Learn more: rsdp.umn.edu/northwest Big River Continuum [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Weisman Art Museum, White Earth Reservation, UMN Itasca Biological Research Station Itasca State Park – This project cultivates creative exchanges connecting communities of the Mississippi River from the headwaters to the delta. Taking inspiration from the Ojibwe name Misiziibi, or gichi-ziibi (meaning Huge River), this initiative turns the Mississippi River in its entirety into a platform for creative collaboration. This project strives to connect geographies and sectors to synergize the uniqueness of regional and indigenous cultures, artists and scholars in a shared process of inquiry. Future of the Old City Auditorium FOCUS AREAS: Thief River Falls Downtown Development Association, Pennington County Auditorium Committee, Pennington County Historical Society, Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce, City of Thief River Falls, Pennington County Board of Commissioners, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR), UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program Thief River Falls – The Old City Auditorium, in the heart of Thief River Falls, is in danger of being razed for a parking lot. This project provides an opportunity for public input, bringing together University staff and the Pennington County community to brainstorm ideas and plan for the future of the auditorium by addressing rehabilitation funding streams and new uses to help it be self-sustaining. The master plan developed with assistance from UMN had a goal of creating a unified, welcoming environment that would revitalize the downtown community. Having this building remain standing and useful contributes to the vitality of downtown Thief River Falls. Lake of the Woods Keep It Clean FOCUS AREAS: Lake of the Woods Keep It Clean Committee, UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs Baudette – The Lake of the Woods Keep It Clean Committee, is developing a report that assesses the shift in tourism and recreation on Lake of the Woods, addressing a dramatic increase in ice fishing using wheelhouses. The report will scope out options for

addressing economic and environmental issues such as trash, grey water, needed services and impacts to local economics, and will benefit other communities across the state. A second project develops a communication plan to build awareness and provide clear instruction on waste management. Lao Outreach in Warroad [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota, Roseau Social Services, City of Warroad, Marvin Windows, Lao Temple, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program Warroad – This is a research and needs assessment that will focus on identifying barriers Lao individuals face in receiving assistance from government agencies, such as public education or social services among other needs the community is experiencing as well. Making it Home Red Lake Falls [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: City of Red Lake Falls, UMN Extension Community Vitality Red Lake Falls – This community sits in the middle of larger surrounding communities that have large businesses. This project supported revitalization of a small community through a development plan that analyzed characteristics of the town’s economics, housing, community facilities, and other characteristics. By training facilitators through the Making it Home program, the community can better understand what improvements residents desire, how they can best market local assets to potential new residents, and how new residents can be integrated into the community so they will feel welcome and “at home” in the city. Market Strategy for Organize Seed Collective FOCUS AREAS: North Star Seed Company, Farmers Sue Wika, Kathy Connell, Greg Reynolds, and Zachary Paige, UMN Extension Community Vitality, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program Vergas – Organic seed growers are organizing a collective, North Star Seed, promoting and increasing access of diverse vegetables bred for nutrition and flavor and culturally appropriate seeds produced in MN. The collective provides an outlet for growers and increasing access using sustainable methods in growing 5 or more varieties. This project will help support local MN seed

growers and increase education about seed savings techniques, building a more sustainable and healthier community. MN GreenSteps in Northwest Minnesota FOCUS AREAS: City of Mahnomen, City of Warren, UMN Crookston Liberal Arts and Education Mahnomen & Warren – The City of Mahnomen is starting its journey as a GreenStep City to reduce energy costs and dependence and decrease maintenance expenses as a sustainability goal to become a better steward of the environment. An intern will assist the city in obtaining Step 1 and 2 of the GreenStep program for increased energy independence with involvement of the White Earth Nation into the program, building stronger relationships through fostered communication, trust and respect. The City of Warren is a Step 3 city, and is focusing on communicating its story within the community and to regional cities as they begin the process. Marissa Nix served as an intern writing articles for the newspaper and newsletter, as well as social media. Otter Tail County Visitor Profiles [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: City of New York Mills, Fergus Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Pelican Rapids Chamber, Perham Chamber, Henning Landmark Center, City of Vergas, Otter Tail Lakes County Association, City of Battle Lake, Otter Tail Tourism Bureau, UMN Tourism Center Otter Tail County – Conduct a visitor profile study to more effectively develop marketing plans and strategies to influence the behavior and actions of future potential visitors and residents. The results will be shared with businesses within the region to benefit and develop workforce recruitment approaches. Scholarships/ Sponsorships FOCUS AREAS: Green Lands Blue Waters Conference, Northern Growers and Markets Conference, Red River Basin Commission Annual Summit, Growing Tourism Leadership, Community Food Systems Conference Crookston – Funds are available for scholarships and sponsorships for Northwest region residents. Community members apply for scholarships or sponsorships for educational activities. Solar + Pollinators Education [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL), 8th Fire Solar, White Earth Tribal College, UMN Extension Youth Development

Pine Point, Mahnomen - RREAL's nationally scaled 100% low-income community solar model, Community Solar for Community Action (CS4CA), is being implemented in partnership with the White Earth Nation. This project will serve an additional 100 low-income families and provide technical workforce development for White Earth Tribal College students and 4th-8th grade students who are part of the White Earth Math and Science Academy. This proposal is focused on support for solar thermal, PV and poll inator education development for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Testing the Effectiveness of Fish Fertilizer on Radish Yield & Nutrient Quality [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Red Lake Nation, UMN Crookston (UMC) Horticulture Red Lake Nation – This project proposes to conduct greenhouse scale undergrad research to determine the effectiveness of l iquid fish fertilizer using foliar feeding on biomass, yield, and nutrient content of radish. UMC faculty and students will work with 4 Directions Development to design research. UMC faculty and students will design, implement, analyze data, compile and report results. RAPID RESPONSE COVID-19 PROJECTS FOCUS AREAS: In response to COVID-19, RSDP staff and boards addressed emerging concerns and supported local solutions advancing community resiliency. Rapid Response projects included: 14-Day Meal Kits in NW MN [NEW] Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Northwest Minnesota Foundation Crookston – The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, with financial assistance from Northwest Minnesota Foundation, creates and delivers 14-day food kits throughout the northwest region, sourcing food from rural grocery stores. Assuring Water for All [NEW] City of Mahnomen, Mahnomen residents Mahnomen – The City of Mahnomen used rapid response funds to cover water bills in arrears and ensure that water service was provided to all residents. Container Gardens [NEW] Becker County 4-H, Detroit Lakes Boys and Girls Club, Manna Coop Detroit Lakes – Becker County 4-H and SNAP Ed partner with several area farmers, and Manna Coop and Boys and Girls Club to build cedar plant boxes for families, and provide soil, plants and education.

Emergency Response [NEW] Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Crookston – Tri-Valley Opportunity Council fi lls the gap to ensure that residents have access to hot water and transportation. Enabling E-Learning [NEW] Care and Share Crookston – Care and Share installs routers to support e-learning for children in its care. Sack Lunch Program [NEW] Churches United Moorhead – Churches United establishes sack lunch programming for those who need food, purchasing food from the rural grocery store in Hawley. STEAM Kits [NEW] Becker County Historical Society, Detroit Lakes Boys and Girls Club Detroit Lakes – Becker County Historical Society provides STEM + Arts = STEAM kits for families associated with the Boys and Girls Club. The kits support learning aligned with distance-learning and social-distancing protocols. Supporting Food Shelves [NEW] Helping Hands Food Shelf, White Earth Food Shelf, Red Lake Food Shelf Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation – Direct support for emergency food providers. Victory Garden Corps [NEW] Honor the Earth, White Earth Nation Callaway – Honor the Earth serves the White Earth Nation by deploying staff to ti l l and seed gardens. NORTHWEST CERT

Community-Scale Storage Guide for Renewable Energy ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Red Lake Nation – The Energy Transition Lab at the University of Minnesota will develop a user-friendly energy storage guide in both print and web-based decision tools for community-level sites interested in using energy storage to maximize their renewable energy systems. The funding from CERTs will cover some of the labor costs of battery installation at a demonstration site on the Red Lake Nation. This pilot project will benefit the local community and allow the Lab to gather information on the value of effective energy storage systems.

Headwaters Science Center: Shine a Light on Science ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Bemidji – The Headwaters Science Center (HSC) was founded in 1994 to provide hands-on science and technology exploration in northern Minnesota. The Center will use its CERTs Seed Grant to replace outdated l ighting in the building with energy-efficient LEDs. In addition to providing a brighter, more visitor-friendly atmosphere, these l ights will serve as a science exhibit in their own right, demonstrating the benefits of energy-efficient lighting to the nearly 30,000 visitors who pass through the Center’s doors each year. LED Retrofit for Dowell Hall & Campus Education ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Crookston – UMN Crookston will use the funding awarded by CERTs to install light controls and LED lights at Dowell Hall, one of the most heavily-used buildings on the campus. By posting signage throughout the building and conducting outreach to the broader Crookston community on the financial benefits of LED lighting, the University further hopes to educate students, faculty and the general public about the practical advantages of adopting energy-efficient infrastructure.

SOUTHEAST REGION Executive Director: Okey Ukaga, ukaga001@umn.edu Learn more: rsdp.umn.edu/southeast Deep Winter Greenhouse Data Collection to Inform Future Design FOCUS AREAS: AgriBank Farm Credit Bank, Compeer Financial, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, UMN Institute on the Environment (IonE), MnDRIVE Global Food Ventures, MnDRIVE Robotics, Sensors, & Advanced Manufacturing, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR – Daniel Handeen) Lake City – There are currently more than 200 thermocouples in the rock bed collecting information on air flow in the Lake City Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG). This project will enable researchers to collect those data to allow for analysis that will be used in future DWG designs to maximize performance of the rock bed thermal mass system. Human Powered Trails [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: City of Lanesboro, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR – Virajita Singh), UMN Law School Lanesboro – This project creates human-powered trails, including hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails. These trails connect multiple towns throughout the Root River Valley and into other areas of Southeast Minnesota. Informational Signage for Six Historic Properties with Interactive Component [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: City of Mantorville, Mantorville Restoration Association, Mantorville Chamber of Commerce, Mantorville Park Board, Mantorville Economic Development Authority, Mantorville Art Guild, Mantorville Theatre Company, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR – Richard Graves) Mantorville – This project preserves knowledge and promotes appreciation of six historic structures in downtown Mantorville by developing and installing permanent signage at each site. These signs explain each location’s historical significance, place in the community’s past and present, and other interesting facts and stories. A part of each sign will direct the visitor, using a smart device, to additional recorded information or stories about the building, people of the time, or specifics of the site itself.

Measuring Soil Health Using Teabag Method FOCUS AREAS: Rice and Le Sueur Counties' Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Local Collaborating Farmers, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN Extension Agriculture Production Systems Faribault – This project expands a 2018 pilot experiment that examined an inexpensive "tea bag" method to measure microbial activity, an indicator of soil health and sustainability of farmland. Partners are collaborating with Rice and Le Sueur County farmers and other regional partners to evaluate the validity of this low-cost, on-farm method by comparing it to known laboratory tests. At the end of the study, the project team will host a "Sustainable Soil Day" where results will be shared with the public along with other fact-based curriculum. Novel Approach to Emerald Ash Borer Wood Use [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Grand Rounds Brewing Company, UMN Extension Forestry Team (Angela Gupta) Rochester – This project involves creation of a year-round parklet outside of Grand Rounds that uses Emerald Ash Borer infested trees from the City of Rochester after they have been rough sawn and kiln dried. Olmsted County Baseline Food Security Assessment [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Plant A Seed Initiative, UMN Extension SNAP-Ed Rochester – Food security is a growing concern, and local food-system research highlights food insecurities that prevent >20% of Rochester and Olmsted County residents from accessing foods to meet their dietary needs and preferences for a healthy, active l ifestyle. This project aims to better understand the food needs of local residents so future food-access programming will become more effective and accurately reflect the diverse cultural needs of our community. Scholarships/ Sponsorships FOCUS AREAS: Climate Adaptation Conference, Green Lands Blue Waters Rochester – Funds are available for scholarships and sponsorships for Southeast region residents. Community members are invited to apply for scholarships to

participate in activities intended to increase their capacity to serve their communities. Wabasha Active Living Community Bike/Walk Asset Planning FOCUS AREAS: City of Wabasha, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) Wabasha – The Wabasha Active Living Community (WALC) project is a two-phase community engagement, research and outreach strategy that will inform planning and implementation on active l iving opportunities, specifically enhanced walking and biking, for community residents and visitors. RAPID RESPONSE COVID-19 PROJECTS FOCUS AREAS: In response to COVID-19, RSDP staff and boards addressed emerging concerns and supported local solutions advancing community resiliency. Rapid Response projects included: Interactive Virtual-Learning for Homebound K-6 Students [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Mankato – This project supports the development of free interactive virtual-learning opportunities for homebound K-6 students in Minnesota and beyond. SOUTHEAST CERT City of Red Wing Climate Action Plan ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Red Wing – The City of Red Wing will hire a consultant to develop a Climate Action Plan that provides a comprehensive pathway addressing climate change in Red Wing. The City engaged in a two-year process of l istening to the community in service of developing a Red Wing 2040 Community Plan that truly reflected the concerns of the city’s constituents. One finding that emerged from these sessions was that a majority of the community wanted climate change to be recognized by the City in its actions and policies. Hiring a consultant to research and compile a Climate Action Plan is the first step in facilitating proactive decision-making to enhance the safety and long-term resilience of the Red Wing community. La Crescent Electric Vehicle Charging Stations ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy La Crescent – The City of La Crescent will install two Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations adjacent to the city’s

new event center and hotel. By installing these stations, La Crescent hopes to promote renewable energy-based transportation options, educate drivers on the lower operating costs associated with electric vehicles, and provide electric vehicle charging options within the city itself. Prairie House Battery Storage at Quarry Hill Nature Center ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Rochester – The Quarry Hill Park and Nature Center (QHP&NC) provides free outdoor activities and educational programming for the greater Rochester community. Its solar system produced 8.8 MWh of energy in its first year, double the amount required for the building’s functions, but was unable to store the surplus energy. With this grant, QHP&NC will partner with Solar Connection – installers of the original solar panel system – to connect batteries for storage and use of renewable energy onsite. The center’s high profile and strong community connection mean that this project will serve as a model for other buildings in the region and provide opportunities for community education on the benefits of renewable energy coupled with storage. Ridgeway Community Solar Project ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Houston – The Ridgeway Community School will hire a contractor from paleBLUEdot to assist with the logistical and financial research necessary to develop a feasible plan for a photovoltaic array. The goal is to offset a portion of the school’s electrical use and possibly also that of a handful of community member investors. The solar array would serve to both l ighten the financial burden for the school and provide an example to the community of how clean energy technologies can cut down on util ity bills. Scarlets RetroLED the Hallways! ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Mankato – The YES! Team at Mankato West High School plans to reduce electricity usage by nearly 50% by replacing 731 l ightbulbs in the school with energy-efficient LEDs. In addition to the estimated $3,000 worth of savings generated annually from the upgrade, the team will use this opportunity to engage staff and students in critical thinking about energy usage, energy costs and actions they can take to reduce their personal energy consumption. The CERTs Seed Grant will cover the labor costs for the electrician contracted to remove ballasts, rewire fixtures and install the LED lamps.

Solar for Northfield ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Northfield – The City of Northfield’s Climate Action Plan seeks to be 100% carbon free by 2040. Developing the city’s solar potential is a critical step in achieving this ambitious goal. With this project, Northfield plans to create a citywide solar PV potentials study detailing both economic and environmental benefits. They further hope to identify the current energy usages of government buildings compared to regional/national peer groups, conduct outreach on renewable energy for affordable multi-family housing, and ultimately create a Solar PV Master Plan for City-owned facilities. CERTs Seed Grant funding will go towards engaging consulting services that will facilitate the process of research and development. Winona DC Fast Charger for EVs ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Winona – The Winona Climate Action Network plans to help close the gap in electric vehicle charging stations in the Highway 61 corridor by installing three publicly-available stations on the grounds of Winona State University. These new chargers will elevate the visibility of electric vehicles within the Winona community and serve as a focal point for future community outreach efforts surrounding renewable energy transportation technologies.

SOUTHWEST REGION Executive Director: Anne Dybsetter, adybsett@umn.edu Learn more: rsdp.umn.edu/southwest

Bonanza Education Center Program Development FOCUS AREAS: Bonanza Education Center (BEC), BEC member schools, UMN Extension - Big Stone County 4-H Youth Development, UMN Master Naturalists Clinton – Bonanza Education Center hosted events to promote environmental education and provide new experiences for students of all ages in Big Stone County and surrounding areas. The project included a professional development workshop and virtual education resources to increase the capacity of area educators to engage their students in environmental education activities. Connecting Students & Communities FOCUS AREAS: Montevideo Community Meals, UMN Morris Center for Small Towns Montevideo – This funding helps make it possible for the Center for Small Towns at UMN Morris to offer opportunities for communities to apply to have undergraduate students assist with projects. In fiscal year 2020, a student supported Montevideo Community Meals in developing a marketing plan and a website. Creative Community Development Resource Guide [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Department of Public Transformation, Southwest MN Housing Partnership, Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, Pioneer Public Television, Homeboat Arts Collective, UMN Morris Center for Small Towns, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs Granite Falls – Three UMN students worked with community partners to develop a resource guide for refurbishing formerly vacant small-town buildings into valuable community spaces. In addition to telling the story of a prototype building redevelopment project, the guide includes resources for Southwest Minnesota communities and strategies to use creative approaches to engage diverse populations. Organizations, city departments and community groups can access the resource guide online or in hard copy. http://z.umn.edu/CreativeCommunity

Dakota Wata Dugout Canoe Project FOCUS AREAS: Upper Sioux Community, Lower Sioux Community, Micronesian community of Milan, Angechu, UMN Department of American Indian Studies, UMN Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium Milan, Upper & Lower Sioux Communities – The Dakota Wata dugout canoe project supported the carving of a traditional Dakota dugout canoe and preparation for a traditional canoe house, in a shared effort and in conjunction with building a Micronesian outrigger canoe. In addition, community members from indigenous Dakota communities hosted events, including a star stories workshop, and developed virtual reality resources focused on traditional ecological knowledge. Garlic Festival Impact Study

FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association – Crow River Chapter, UMN Tourism Center, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP) Hutchinson – When the Minnesota Garlic Festival took place in summer 2019, a graduate research assistant worked alongside the Crow River Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) to complete an evaluation of the Hutchinson event. The student interviewed garlic vendors, general vendors and attendees, and developed a report that is being used to identify opportunities to improve the Garlic Festival and other SFA events. http://hdl.handle.net/11299/208323 Inventory & Concept Design of Developable Properties [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC); Communities of Benson, Dawson, Granite Falls, Madison, Montevideo, and others; UMN Morris Center for Small Towns, UMN College of Design Appleton and surrounding region - Undergraduate students at the Center for Small Towns (UMN Morris) inventoried vacant or underutilized properties across five counties in Southwest Minnesota. A graduate student in UMN College of Design's architecture program worked closely with the partner and community members to develop visually compelling design concepts for a number of high-potential properties. The resulting map

and info sheets will inspire redevelopment ideas and inform sustainable development in the region. MNYou Youth Gardens Deep Winter Greenhouse Research [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: MNYou Youth Gardens, City of Willmar, UMN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Assistantship Program (CURA-CAP), UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR - Daniel Handeen), UMN Extension Center for Community Vitality Willmar – MNYou Youth Gardens are building a Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG) in Willmar as a training site for youth and new immigrants to learn the basics of growing food in Minnesota. To prepare, MNYou partnered with a graduate student to research examples of educational and nonprofit DWGs around the state. Each of nine case studies explores the purpose, funding, zoning and construction, current usage, management and future usage of non-farm DWGs. Find the report at z.umn.edu/DWGcasestudies. Olivia Main Street – Equity Blueprint Pilot [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: City of Olivia Main Street Program, Growth and Justice, UMN Extension Center for Community Vitality, UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs Olivia – The Main Street Program in Olivia, in partnership with Growth and Justice and the One Minnesota Equity Blueprint, is focused on exploring ways to make community revitalization and downtown development equitable and inclusive. A graduate student provided technical assistance to Olivia's Main Street program by documenting and mapping opportunities and barriers to resident participation in downtown redevelopment efforts. Rural Climate Dialogues: Renewable Energy Siting [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Voices for Rural Resil ience, Minnesota Ag and Rural Leaders, community members in Redwood County and Murray County, UMN Extension Center for Community Vitality Redwood Falls, Slayton – Community dialogues focused on renewable energy siting took place in Redwood County and Murray County, hosted by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and the Jefferson Center. In conjunction, project partners worked with Voices for Rural Resilience, UMN Extension and Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) to expand the reach of the renewable energy dialogues and activate a network of leaders to share similar conversations.

Scholarships and Sponsorships FOCUS AREAS: Minnesota Garlic Festival, Green Lands Blue Waters, Climate Adaptation Conference, Come Grow with Me children’s garden, and others Willmar – Funds are available for sponsorships and scholarships for Southwest region residents. Community members are invited to apply for scholarships to participate in activities that will increase their capacity to serve their communities or for sponsorships for events and activities related to sustainable development. Soil Health Case Studies FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association, numerous farmers, UMN Center for Integrated Natural Resource & Agricultural Management (CINRAM), UMN College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Austin, Garvin, Henderson, Howard Lake, Lamberton, Luverne, Marshall, Paynesville, Starbuck – This project promotes farmer-to-farmer knowledge-sharing through case studies and an online mapping tool, with the goal of increasing the broad adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. A graduate student interviewed nine exemplary farmers across southern Minnesota about their practices to enhance soil health. The case studies that were developed from the interviews describe the farmers’ experiences and lessons learned. Read the case studies at z.umn.edu/soilhealthcasestudies2020. Sustainable Neighborhood Grocery Research Project [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: New Ulm Community Market and Cooperative, numerous small food retailers, UMN College of Liberal Arts New Ulm – New Ulm Community Market and Co-op partnered with a graduate student to examine tools and techniques that small food cooperatives and rural grocery retailers use to stay competitive and evolve in the current marketplace. The research explores six case studies, including examples of innovations such as a community kitchen, installation of solar panels, meal kits, sell ing produce on consignment, and various staffing models. Read the case studies at: https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/213840 RAPID RESPONSE COVID-19 PROJECTS FOCUS AREAS: In response to COVID-19, RSDP staff and boards addressed emerging concerns and supported local solutions advancing community resiliency. Rapid Response projects included:

Community Care Baskets [NEW] Kirby’s Closet Jackson County – Kirby's Closet delivered care baskets of hygiene and cleaning items plus some snacks and word-find books to home-bound elderly residents in and around Jackson county. They also took books to Lakefield City Hall and told families to take as many as they needed to entertain readers at home while schools are closed. Community Emergency Relief Fund [NEW] Springboard for the Arts Southwest region – Springboard’s Rural Program works with artists to safely bring joy, social connection and comfort to communities that need it the most during the time of COVID-19. Projects may include performances outside of care facilities or businesses, facilitated art projects for families to display in windows or doors, and more. Dakota Community Artist-in-Residence [NEW] Department of Public Transformation Granite Falls - The Department of Public Transformation collaborated with Dakota Wicohan and Racing Magpie on this pilot project. Two Dakota artists based in the Southwest Mnisota region, Pezihutazizi Oyate (Upper Sioux Community) and/or C̣aƞṡayapi (Lower Sioux Indian Community) were selected to design and implement a creative project addressing a need identified by their local community. Delivery of Food and Supplies [NEW] Graceville Women's Organization Graceville – Members contacted elders in the community to see if they needed food, hygiene products or other supplies and then delivered kits of supplies purchased from local businesses. Funds also contributed to weekend food supplies for high school students and elders. Food Forest Planting Assistance [NEW] Prairie Ally and Project Food Forest Luverne – Prairie Ally sought assistance to aid in planting food-producing perennial and annual plants, mulching and fencing at the Prairie Ally public food forest in Luverne. This need developed due to the cancellation of volunteer events for installation and maintenance this spring and summer. Providing Essential Supplies in Nobles County [NEW] Seeds of Justice and Voices for Racial Justice Worthington - Seeds of Justice and local community members purchased supplies for families and households in the Worthington area directly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in the food industry. The effort focused on a core demographic of immigrants and communities of

color. Provisions included food as well as essentials such as diapers, baby formula, hygiene products, and over the counter medicines. SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL CERTS Balaton Business Energy Efficiency CERT Partnership ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Balaton – The City of Balaton Economic Development Authority (EDA) will use CERTs funding to facilitate energy efficient improvements to selected businesses in the community. In a small town like Balaton, businesses are vital to the strength of the local tax base, and improving energy efficiency for the facilities that house these enterprises will improve their bottom line and reduce energy consumption in ways that boost the vitality of the local economy and encourage entrepreneurship. Community-Scale Energy Storage Guide for Renewable Energy ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy Morris – UMN Morris, in partnership with the Energy Transition Lab, will develop a user-friendly energy storage guide and both print and web-based decision tools for community-level sites that are interested in using energy storage to maximize their renewable energy systems. This pilot project will benefit local communities and allow the Lab to gather valuable information on the value of effective energy storage systems in implementing successful clean energy projects within Minnesota communities. Façade Improvement/Energy Efficiency Program ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Slayton – The City of Slayton Economic Development Authority (EDA) plans to incorporate an energy efficiency component in their existing commercial façade improvement program. Under this reimbursable program, entrepreneurs in Slayton apply to receive up to a 35% grant for improvements to the façade of their business. By ensuring that businesses no longer “bleed” money that they could be saving with energy-efficient upgrades to their buildings, the EDA will generate economic benefits for the Slayton community as a whole. Feasibility of Storing Wind Energy for Minnesota Communities Using Ammonia ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Renewable Energy

Morris – The UMN West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) will engage an intern to evaluate the technical feasibility of storing excess wind energy at UMN Morris using a combined system of a battery along with hydrogen and ammonia production. The intern, a student from the University of Applied Science Münster, wil l address such issues as optimum battery size, the appropriate energy generation technologies for utilizing hydrogen and ammonia, operational considerations, and capital installation and system operation costs. The intern’s findings will then be shared via public presentations to the public and on the websites for the WCROC and the Morris Model. Get Wired at Marshall-Lyon County Library ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Marshall – When the Marshall-Lyon County Library opened in 2011, the county hoped that the combination of the geothermal heating/cooling system and updated l ight fixtures would cut down on utility costs, allowing more public funds to go to acquiring additional materials for the l ibrary’s collection and expanding programs offered to residents. However, by 2016, the electric bill for the building was on schedule to exceed $50,000 annually. The Library has made tweaks to the geothermal system and instituted other strategic changes that have cut down on these costs significantly, but replacing fluorescent bulbs remains the last big step to true efficiency. With the funds provided by the CERTs Seed Grant, they will finally be able to close the gap between aspiration and reality by retrofitting the building with LED lamps and fixtures. Greater Milan Initiative: Milan Community Center LED Retrofit Project ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Milan – The Greater Milan Initiative (GMI) will work in collaboration with its partners to retrofit the old Milan school building/community center with LED bulbs. The community center provides a comfortable, welcoming space to host recreational and educational activities such as sports and wellness events, family parties, church services, and meetings of the monthly 4-H club. Completion of the project will both increase the facility’s energy efficiency and increase cost savings that will, in turn, allow GMI to allocate funding towards other community programming and capital projects. Gym Electrical Upgrades ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency New Ulm – Turner Hall Gymnastics is the oldest continuing program in the state of Minnesota. Their low-cost gymnastics programming provides instruction to

youth 18 months to 18 years of age, and has managed to keep enrollment levels sustainable for over a century. The facility currently uses an outdated breaker box to turn the l ights off and on in the gym, a stopgap measure that is both inefficient and potentially hazardous. They will use their CERTs Seed Grant award to replace the breaker box with appropriate l ighting infrastructure that is both safer and more energy efficient. In Home Education and Energy Saving Program ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Southwest MN – The United Community Action Partnership (United CAP) plans to work with clients in Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon and Redwood counties to conduct in-home education sessions on energy upgrades and weatherization for eligible applicants. Clients may not be aware of opportunities to save on their energy bills and reduce consumption, but by assessing their homes in person, United CAP will be able to determine if they are viable candidates for weatherization or appliance replacement. Energy savings in these cases provide significant financial benefits to clients. The funds provided by the CERTs Seed Grant will cover the cost of the staff labor required for effective outreach and implementation of this project. In Home Education and Energy Saving Program ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency West Central – The United Community Action Partnership (United CAP) plans to work with clients in Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker and Renville counties to conduct in-home education sessions on energy upgrades and weatherization for eligible applicants. Clients may not be aware of opportunities to save on their energy bil ls and reduce consumption, but by assessing their homes in person, United CAP will be able to determine if they are viable candidates for weatherization or appliance replacement. Energy savings in these cases provide significant financial benefits to clients. The funds provided by the CERTs Seed Grant will cover the cost of the staff labor required for effective outreach and implementation of this project. LED Lighting Upgrade for Sales Floor and Backroom ENERGY FOCUS AREAS: Energy Efficiency Winthrop – Winthrop Market will replace 218 T8 and 6 T12 fixtures in its facility with new, energy-efficient LED bulbs. They are engaging a local electrical contractor to complete the project and estimate that the switch will save them an average of $2,000 in utility bills per year.

STATEWIDE PROJECTS Statewide Director: Kathy Draeger, draeg001@umn.edu Learn more: rsdp.umn.edu

Community-led Approach to Increase Consumption of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: The Case of the Somali Community in Saint Cloud, Minnesota FOCUS AREAS: Midway Halal Grocery and Deli, Midnimo Grocery and Halal Meat, Iftin Grocery Store: Halal & Meat, Green Market, UMN Extension Center for Family Development, UMN Epidemiology & Community Health, UMN Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Institute, UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), UMN Applied Economics St. Cloud, Waite Park – A Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Faculty Research Grant supports the study of in-store healthy food interventions by partnering with Somali-owned grocery stores. Deep Winter Food Production in the North Central Region FOCUS AREAS: Bemidji Community Food Shelf, Organic Consumers Association, Grampa Gs Farm, Alternative Roots Farm, Lake City Catholic Worker Farm, USDA SARE, UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Horticulture, UMN Extension Community Vitality Bemidji, Finland, Lake City, Madelia, Pillager – This Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG) research and outreach effort involves conducting horticultural research trials for DWGs; conducting interviews of DWG producers to develop enterprise analysis; and conducting production training workshops. Deep Winter Greenhouse Initiative FOCUS AREAS: Bemidji Community Food Shelf, Organic Consumers Association, Grampa Gs Farm, Alternative Roots Farm, Lake City Catholic Worker Farm, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), White Earth Land Recovery Project, MN Department of Agriculture, Paradox Farm, United FCS, AgStar Financial Services, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, AgriBank, Compeer Financial, UMN Extension Community Vitality, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR – Daniel Handeen), UMN Institute on the Environment (IonE), MnDRIVE Global Food Ventures, MnDRIVE Robotics, Sensors, & Advanced Manufacturing Bemidji, Finland, Lake City, Madelia, Pillager – RSDP is collaborating with producers and organizations

throughout Minnesota to research and test an environmentally friendly way of growing greens year-round in cold climates. Community partners built UMN-designed Deep Winter Greenhouses (DWGs) – one in each RSDP region – to grow crops as well as participate in research and outreach events for the public for a period of three years. RSDP is also working to complete DWG training workshops at each of the five prototype DWGs and with HAFA and White Earth, as well as to develop a DWG production manual. Designing Sustainability Metrics for Meaning and Impact FOCUS AREAS: Minnesota Compass, UMN Institute on the Environment (IonE) Brainerd, Crookston, Duluth, Rochester, St. Paul, Willmar – With support from a UMN Institute on the Environment (IonE) mini grant, RSDP and IonE staff are working with staff, board and work group members in each of RSDP’s five regions to identify a framework for measurement and metrics that supports RSDP’s sustainability values and bedrock principles. This mini grant is being used to workshop and share the developed framework and newly identified RSDP sustainability metrics with RSDP board members, work group members, community partners and University colleagues. Developing Multi-Use Naked Barley for Organic Farming Systems FOCUS AREAS: Craft brewers, UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Agronomy & Plant Genetics, UMN CFANS Food Science & Nutrition St. Paul – Organic growers need new crops, markets and rotation options supported by varieties that are developed specifically for organic conditions. This project aims raise awareness and improve varieties of naked barley to provide organic gardeners, growers, processors and consumers with an alternative crop, food and raw material that will be economically rewarding and sustainable.

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Farm Food Safety FOCUS AREAS: 5 Farmer Trainers, MN Department of Agriculture, UMN Extension Food Safety Monticello, St. Cloud – This project provides educational outreach on the new FSMA Produce Safety Rule to small- and medium-size produce farmers in the state of Minnesota. Halal + Kosher Minnesota Meat Market Assessment [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: MN Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), Sustainable Farming Association of MN, Community Partner Abdullahi Hashi, West Central Initiative, Islamic Resource Group, Beth Jacob Congregation Rabbi Emeritus, UMN Extension Community Vitality, UMN Extension Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, UMN Extension Regional Directors, UMN Extension Librarian Silver Lake – A team of 27 people worked on a market assessment report for the halal and kosher meat markets in Minnesota. The team found that these markets offer untapped opportunities for Minnesota farmers to diversify and expand their markets and for new and emerging farmers to become involved in food production. This report provides an overview, criteria, barriers, and consumer concerns and preferences. The report can be downloaded at: z.umn.edu/hkmeat Increasing Production and Market Access for Minnesota Grown Asparagus through Improved Agronomics and Supply Chain Networks [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association of MN, UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Agronomy & Plant Genetics Callaway, Cloquet, Preston – The Sustainable Farming Association, in partnership with RSDP, will work with farmers throughout Minnesota to improve production practices and market access for Minnesota-grown asparagus. Opening Farm to Rural Grocery Markets for MN Specialty Crops [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association of MN, MN Department of Agriculture Bird Island, Finland, Hutchinson – RSDP leads a team that is working with Minnesota specialty crop farmers and rural grocery store owners to increase Minnesota specialty crop farmer access to larger regional markets by opening new farm-to-rural-grocery market channels.

The farm-to-grocery toolkit is available at: z.umn.edu/RSDPfarm2grocery Optimizing Deep Winter Greenhouse Production and Profitability for Specialty Crop Farmers [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Bemidji Community Food Shelf, Organic Consumers Association, Grampa Gs Farm, Alternative Roots Farm, Lake City Catholic Worker Farm, MN Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant, UMN College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR – Daniel Handeen), UMN Extension Community Vitality Lake City, Madelia, Pillager – This project includes modifying Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG) designs to reduce construction costs per square foot; developing designs for optimal planter and workspace configurations to maximize production efficiency; creating enterprise budgets and narratives so producers and financiers understand production and profitability expectations; and conducting production workshops. Premium Minnesota Garlic: Increasing Market Access, Improving Production Practices & Supply Chain Networks FOCUS AREAS: Sustainable Farming Association of MN, UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Agronomy & Plant Genetics Howard Lake – The Sustainable Farming Association, in partnership with RSDP, will work with farmers throughout Minnesota to improve production practices and market access for Minnesota-grown garlic. Support Our Stores: Technical Assistance for Rural Grocers [NEW] FOCUS AREAS: Association of MN Counties, MN Grocers Association, Mason Brothers Wholesale Grocery, KC’s Country Market, Eyota Market, Good Food Access Program, UMN Extension Community Vitality, UMN College of Design, UMN Extension Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN Extension Family Development, UMN Rural Stress Taskforce, CERTs Badger, Eyota, St. Paul, Wadena – The goal of this project is to prevent store closures by providing a tailor-fit model of technical assistance to rural grocery store owners. Wheat Variety and Sourdough Product Analysis for Anti-Nutrient Levels Related to Digestibility [NEW] Focus Areas: Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, Back When Foods, Inc., UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Agronomy & Plant Genetics

Crookston – RSDP is partnered with a team of researchers through an Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Crop Research Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to investigate and identify wheat varieties that may exhibit naturally low anti-nutrient levels for breeding purposes in effort to potentially reduce wheat digestibility concerns. The project team includes a sourdough baker who will contribute to the research through the exploration of fermentation as a processing technique to reduce anti-nutrients, amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATI) and fructans (FODMAPs) in wheat food products including bread and bakery products. Winter Camelina: New Cash Crop Opportunities for Sustainable Sugar Beet Production FOCUS AREAS: USDA Agricultural Research Service; UMN College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) Agronomy & Plant Genetics; UMN CFANS Soil, Water & Climate Waseca – Winter camelina is a new winter annual crop in development within the Forever Green Initiative. This grant will work with sugar beet farmers to research the viability of camelina within sugar beet rotations, quantify the economics of this new system, and spur supply chain connections to bring this new crop to market. STATEWIDE CERTS CERTs Core Funding FOCUS AREAS: Legislative appropriation via the MN Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources. Additional core partners include: Southwest Regional Development Commission, Great Plains Institute, The Minnesota Project Statewide – To advance CERTs’ mission to connect individuals and communities with the resources they need to identify and implement community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the State of Minnesota. Clean Energy Job Board FOCUS AREAS: Statewide – The MN Clean Energy Job Board is a tool that job seekers can use to find jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields, and that employers can use to post their latest openings. All jobs are focused on the implementation of clean energy in Minnesota, and are not related to advocacy or policy.

Connecting Low-Income Communities to Efficiency & Renewable Sources (CLICERS) FOCUS AREAS: MN Department of Commerce Statewide – Connecting Low-Income Communities to Efficiency and Renewable Sources (CLICERS) is an effort geared toward developing strategies to lower household energy burden, particularly utilizing solar energy, that are data driven, based on best practices nation-wide, and based upon local stakeholder input. CERTs has assisted the MN Department of Commerce with initial data gathering, interviews and a series of stakeholder meetings targeting identification of high-value opportunities to lower the energy burden of low-income households. GreenStep Cities/Tribal Nations FOCUS AREAS: MN Pollution Control Agency, Great Plains Institute, League of Minnesota Cities Statewide – Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. This free continuous improvement program, managed by a public-private partnership, is based upon 29 best practices. MN Solar Pathways FOCUS AREAS: MN Department of Commerce, Great Plains Institute Statewide – This project facilitates collaboration to find least-risk, best-value strategies to support the realization of Minnesota’s 10% by 2030 solar electricity goal and set the stage for further solar deployment. Property Accessed Clean Energy (PACE) FOCUS AREAS: Saint Paul Port Authority Statewide – CERTs staff work across the state giving presentations and educational information about PACE to county commissioners and local municipal leaders, with the goal of activating a joint powers agreement to make PACE financing available in their jurisdiction so that businesses can use it for energy efficiency and/or renewable energy projects. Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota FOCUS AREAS: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Statewide – CERTs is working with Minnesota farmers and rural small businesses to identify opportunities for energy efficiency in order to maximize the potential benefit of any renewable energy systems. Working statewide, the project will help prioritize renewable energy options that align with the farm or business operations and connect potential projects with resources

and tools – l ike USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding – to move forward on project implementation with a focus on solar (photovoltaic and thermal), biomass and small wind. Scaling up Clean Energy Deployment across Minnesota FOCUS AREAS: McKnight Foundation Statewide – This funding supports scaling up clean energy project deployment across Minnesota by developing community capacity to implement projects, cultivating innovative community connections, and expanding the use of CERTs as a technical assistance and resource hub. Solar Possible FOCUS AREAS: Great Plains Institute, Office of Enterprise Sustainability Multi-region – The Solar Possible initiative offers state agencies, local governments and schools in Xcel Energy electric territory in Minnesota the opportunity to procure solar through a joint Request for Proposal process. SolSmart FOCUS AREAS: Great Plains Institute Statewide – SolSmart is a national program that provides free technical assistance with addressing local barriers to solar energy development. In collaborating with partners, CERTs has supported Chisago and Stearns Counties and the cities of Austin, Grand Rapids, Hutchinson, Pine City, Rochester and St. Francis with participation in and advancement toward designation through SolSmart.

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